Follow-up CenterThreads made in the Emergency Room forum will be moved here by staff as a way to follow-up with members after their budgie emergency.
This keeps the E.R. for only the most current emergencies.

Hello, I am so sorry to bother you all but I am desperately trying to get help for my budgerigar.

He is around 12 years old and has always been fine (if a little what I thought was dappy, occasionally flying into walls and needing me to go and pick him up) but this has been happening occasionally with no problems for a few years.

One morning about a month ago he was hopping along and I saw he was unable to use any of the claws on his right foot and all his claws were resting on the perch instead of gripping it.
We took him to the vet straight away and he said he had pulled a nerve and nothing was broken, to massage it gently as a form of physio, which I did. He could still use his leg and position his limp claws to hook on the horizontal bars to climb. Then about 2 weeks later he completely lost the use of his left leg entirely, instantly.
It is trailing completely behind his body limply and hanging down when he tries to climb with his left foot and beak.- I thought he had pulled it out of socket because his foot got caught (the vet said yes and he had just pulled the nerves MORE - so more physio, again checked and nothing broken or dislocated) but since then his balance has become progressively worse, wobbling more and more and I saw today (around 2 weeks later still) that he is beginning to lose the function of his left claws now, unable to hook the slightly longer one that goes underneath under the perch - instead it sits on top with the others with the claw pointing straight up.
Almost overnight he is beginning to lose the ability to land from one perch to another and has to lie flat or prop himself up with his wing, he seems very tired because of all the extra effort and it is so heartbreaking to not be able to help him. My next step is to take him for bloodwork to try to see if there is internal swelling but the vet is only there one day a week and so I would be really really grateful for any information from people that have experienced or heard of similar things, is there any advice or view you could give me? I very much appreciate your time. Thank you.

I am so very worried about him, his brother is picking on him a little now that he is struggling (but I am sure he was nothing to do with the cause) his foot does not have any cuts, sores or lesions.

At twelve years of age your budgie is a great age. It sounds like he could of had some sort of neurological problem or a stroke. You need to make an appointment immediately to have him assessed and them make the choice to either make him comfortable as possible with pain medications or euthanize him. I feel might be the other option which will bring sadness but shows your ultimate care and love for him. I am terribly sad to recommend this but I am sure you don't want him suffering and in pain, he will not have an easy time and as you have said his brother is picking on him, it is natures way of managing these situations.
He needs to be kept warm and in a cage without perches or such so he won't fall and damage himself further, I send loving thoughts and I hope he is pain free.

Hi, and welcome to talk budgies.
I'm very sorry to hear your poor little budgie is going through such struggles right now.

The first thing you need to do is put him in a separate cage away from his brother. Budgies know when another is weak or injured and aren't always "nice" to those that are hurt.

Is the vet you are seeing an Avian Vet or a regular vet.
I would strongly suggest you see an Avian Vet as they are more well-versed in caring for our avian friends.

Unfortunately it sounds as if your little fellow is having nuerological problems. At 12 years old, he may have suffered a stroke that is affecting his ability to use his leg. I imagine he is exhausted right now. Remove his perches and cushion the bottom with a towel covered with paper towels in case he falls. Try to keep him warm, give him millet spray soaked in electrolyte solution, pediatlyte OR the solution I'm giving you the recipe for right now.

Mix the honey and salt with the hot water until dissolved
Add the room temperature water and juice and let cool to room temperature before using.

Your little fellow is definitely suffering and I would suggest you do your best to get him into a good Avian Vet as quickly as possible. The vet will be able to recommend if he thinks there is a chance for him to have a normal life or if he would be better off if he's helped to move on in his journey to the Rainbow Bridge. Sometimes that is the most loving thing we can do for our beloved pets as hard as it may be.

I wish you all the best. Please let us know how he's doing after you see the Avian Vet with him.

Thank you very much for the replies, he is a specialist Avian vet though is it terrible that I don't have much faith in him because of the first two times :/ I have booked him in again and will post here what happens. I will try the solution and will pad the bottom of his cage as advised thank you all !

An update: I found out that my vet was not a specialist avian vet, he revealed as much over the telephone when I spoke to him about Blue's other foot starting to stop working. I asked was it a chance it could be internal swelling where I could get blood work done to check and he replied if it was anything internal blood work would not show it and there was not anything more he could do so to not bother coming back in with him. That is when he said he was not actually an avian vet but gave me the number of one, I called it straight away and his secretary said he would not speak with me over the phone (because it is far too far to take him) but if I called my other vet and made him call the avian vet and explain, then the avian vet would give him his opinion and THEN my vet will get back to me...I am still waiting. In the last few days I have made up a special box with all his things in it and hes been sleeping on a flat surface and eating a bit but he has lost almost all his body weight he is so frail and I am terrified for him. I gave him some electrolyte as advised and a short while after he started lurching and it looked as though he was either going to vomit or it was the start of ..the worse. I picked him up quickly and cradled him and that seemed to shock him into stopping whatever it was but he is so frail and light, he has been losing weight for a few weeks but its just dropping off now. I put him by his food and he picks a tiny bit and then preens for ages. What more can I do? Please advise.. anyone?

I will give you my honest answer because you asked, although it isn't an easy thing to hear.

I can't bear to see an animal in pain and suffering.
I would have the vet help him move on in his journey to the Rainbow Bridge if he was my budgie.

I believe after 12 wonderful years it's time to let him fly with the angels.

Over the years, I've had to have two of my budgies euthanized as well as three of my beloved dogs.
While it is one of the hardest things to do, sometimes it is the kindest and most compassionate.
There is no greater gift of selfless love than doing what is in the animal's best interest.

I am very sorry to hear of your little friend's deteriorating condition. In reality, whatever is causing this is either going to be untreatable or very low chance of being treatable with an even lower chance of success. If he is not in noticeable pain, I would wait to see if the vet call's back, but I can tell you love him very much and don't want to see him suffer. You have done an excellent job as his owner getting him to twelve wonderful year's of age, and unfortunately you may not be able to do anything more now but let go....

__________________

He came down from Heaven unto this earth below
He came down from glory and praises untold
He came down to man fashioned in their way
He came down to rescue, He came down to save

How far away is this avian vet? If you don't think he'll be able to hold on long enough to see an avian vet, you'll want to consider euthanasia, like the others said. If there's any hope of him pulling through, he'll need immediate attention. In the meantime, you can try to very carefully syringe feed him food and fluids. You'll want to watch a lot of videos on how to syringe feed him so he doesn't get any in his lungs.

Is there a reptile vet anywhere near you? I know birds and reptiles are different, but it might be worth a try. Hey, are there any zoos or animal shelters near you? They might know of an avian vet that's closer to you.

I am so very sorry, I also will give you my opinion. At his age and with the condition he is in, he is suffering and the kindest thing you can do now is ease that suffering.. It will not be easy but he will be at peace... So sorry.